Alvar Aalto by Richard Weston, 0714837105, Lowest Book Price Finder

Customer Reviews:

An excellent introduction to nordic architecture

Although Alvar Aalto is not the only architect to have come from the Nordic region his sphere of influence is arguably the greatest. With the help of his wife Aino Aalto he created the some of the most original furniture, textiles, ceramics, lamps and, of course, architecture.

Not only is Richard Weston's book a comprehensive monograph study of these works it also provides an insight into the influences on Nordic architecture and Aalto himself; Finnish farmsteads to steamliners, Italian hilltowns to Japanese tea houses. The book clearly sets Aalto apart from his modernist contemporaries in his appreciation of craft and materiality and their psychological and social impact. Weston goes a long way to explaining why Nordic/Scandinavian design (ie IKEA) is like it is.

The book is easy to read yet gives enough pointers through copious references and quotations that it also provides a platform from which one can go deeper into the topics raised. For this reason I very much look forward to reading Weston's new book released in July 2003.

Coffee-table book +

Undoubtedly this is a book of fine photographs and drawings. And for many architects and students that is more than enough. They want to be inspired, and to get a feeling for the material qualities of architecture. They indeed need few words. But Weston's book makes a claim to be more than that. It claims to be a historical monograph. But we get little sense of the strangeness, the Otherness, of Finnish culture. Aalto could more or less be designing anywhere. Reference to Finland is merely stereo-typical "nature". Aalto remains as elusive as ever.

So beautiful as Alvar Aalto's architecture

I love Alvar Aalto's architecture and i think this is book contains so beautiful photografs as his architecture is. Richard Weston on the best.

great book

I would just like to say that this is one of the best architecture books i've seen up to date

Beautiful photographs

Beautiful photographs of Aalto's architecture. I don't think a monograph needs too many words. Weston provides the necessary dates and basic information, but luckilly keeps away from intellectualisations.

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